European Council recruitment: President and High Representative

The European Council has been tardy in preparing for the possible entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, so I decided to lend them a helping hand by publishing this job advertisement (at no expense to the EU).

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Senior EU positions

Subject to the ratification and entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Council is hiring highly qualified individuals for the following posts:

• President of the European Council, for a term of two and a half years, renewable once. Relevant experience: Prime Minister or comparable.
• High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission. Relevant experience: Foreign Minister or comparable.

To check the general job description and your eligibility, be a sport and read the Treaty of Lisbon (at least the relevant Articles).

Detailed responsibilities, authority, staff, salary and fringe benefits have yet to be worked out by your employers, 27 member states governments of the European Union, but understand that this is not a football transfer.

General profile

The European Council attaches particular importance to candidates' ability to grasp problems that are often complex and varied in nature, to react rapidly to changing circumstances, and to communicate effectively. Candidates are expected to show initiative and imagination and to be highly motivated. They should be able to work both independently and in a team and should be able to adjust to a multicultural working environment. They will also be expected to develop their professional skills throughout their career. Recruitment aims to secure for the European Council the services of officials of the highest standard of ability, efficiency and integrity, recruited on the
broadest possible geographical basis from among the citizens of the Member States of the European Union. [Adapted from the European Personnel Selection Office’s General rules governing open competitions; OJEU 26.2.2009 C 47 A/1]

When appointing the President of the European Council, the President of the Commission (almost sealed) and the High Representative, due account is taken of the need to respect the geographical and demographic diversity of the EU and its member states. [See Lisbon Treaty Declaration 6.]

If you are unsure about if political affinities and gender are seen as geographical or demographic diversity factors, or if you have other questions, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union is available for discreet inquiries from 1 July 2009.

Citizens of the European Union are requested not to meddle in the selection process, but are anyway to be ignored.

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Is this your next career move?


Ralf Grahn